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DOES BILL CLINTON SUPPORT MALONEY OVER GILLIBRAND?
The Obama administration doesn't want Democrats to primary newbie New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand from the left. But Manhattan Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is doing so anyway. She'll have a huge deficit in fundraising. But today City Hall News reports that Bill Clinton has agreed to appear at a July 20 fundraiser for Maloney, alongside Charlie Rangel and Geraldine Ferraro.
Maloney is also up for reelection to her House seat, so these appearances don't necessarily constitute Senate endorsements. Still, considering all the media interest in the Senate seat, there's no doubt that any politician or donor appearing with Maloney has considered the implications.
One caveat: If Maloney wants to be taken seriously by New York progressives, she may want to steer clear of Ferraro, who enraged many during the Democratic presidential primary by suggesting that Barack Obama was only gaining traction because he was black. Then, when the Obama campaign criticized her comments, she called them racist. Yeah. It was crazy.
Update: A Clinton aide says the appearance is not an endorsement and that the former president believes Gillibrand is doing "a good job."
--Dana Goldstein
Photo of Carolyn Maloney via Flickr user TalkRadioNews.
COMMENTS (5)
If Maloney wants to be taken seriously by New York progressives...
Is Maloney a progressive? I thought the original complaints against Gillibrand were that she was a conservative Democrat in a state that could easily elect a liberal instead. Isn't that difference the main reason progressives would want a different Senator?
Posted by: Jinchi | July 2, 2009 1:31 PM
"DOES BILL CLINTON SUPPORT MALONEY OVER GILLIBRAND?"
Clinton has said specifically this is not the case. He is merely honoring a previous commitment -- made before she expressed interes in the Senate seat -- to help Maloney raise money for her Congressional war chest.
Posted by: jeanne spivey | July 2, 2009 1:35 PM
Politico says Clinton's not fundraising for Sestak, also a Hillary supporter.
He's campaigning for Maloney's bid for his wife's old seat against her Paterson-picked successor but not not for Joe Sestak? Hm...
Posted by: Dan | July 2, 2009 2:18 PM
"I thought the original complaints against Gillibrand were that she was a conservative Democrat in a state that could easily elect a liberal instead."
NY is a state that could easily elect a Republican, too. Maloney's Congressional seat is as safe for Democrats as a seat can be, but the party doesn't have a lock on statewide offices by a long shot.
The idea that any Democrat will beat any Republican for a state-wide office, and that the Dems can run whomever they want to is a fantasy. That's not to say that Maloney couldn't win, just that the Dems don't have a lock on that seat.
Posted by: Natasha October | July 2, 2009 2:21 PM
this confusion about Bill Clinton's support has been clarified by a member of his staff
http://adugan-billclintonblog.blogspot.com/
Posted by: adugan | July 2, 2009 2:29 PM